by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner have been suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, according to a person informed of the suspensions.

The person, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because neither the team nor the league had announced the discipline, said both players are in the process of appealing their suspensions and that the substance in question is Adderall.

ESPN first reported the suspensions.

Sherman and Browner could have their appeals heard shortly, though a timeline at this point is not clear. With five games remaining in the regular season, the impact on the Seahawks' potential playoff push could be huge. It's unknown at this point if both suspensions will run simultaneously.

The next two cornerbacks in line for Seattle are former starter Marcus Trufant and 2010 fourth-round pick Walter Thurmond.

Although the two players' explanations are unknown, Adderall, an amphetamine that helps players focus, is not banned by the NFL if the player files his prescription with the league.

Notifying the league of supposed prescriptions has been the issue with a few players this season, however, including the Cleveland Browns' Joe Haden, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Eric Wright, new England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Joe Hawley, and New York Giants defensive backs Tyler Sash and Will Hill.

Giants running back Andre Brown was also suspended for Adderall use this spring but had his suspension overturned on appeal.